Warm Up Question

How do you think religion fueled European nations to compete for territories in North America?

Ch. 2 Section 4: Exploring North America

Main Idea: Rivalries between countries, the search for a Northwest Passage to Asia and early trading activities led to increased exploration of North America.

Key Terms: Mercantilism Colombian Exchange Northwest Passage Coureur de Bois

A Divided Church

Martin Luther brought about changes in Europe in the 1500s with his opposition to Catholicism. His protests began the Protestant Reformation.

In France, John Calvin, a Christian theologist, broke away from the Catholic Church.

For personal reasons, King Henry VIII established England as a Protestant nation.

When Europeans settled in America, they brought with them their religious beliefs of either Catholicism or Protestantism.

Economic Rivalry

The exploration of the Americas created rivalries between European countries to acquire colonies there. These colonies provided resources and a market to sell European products. This was known as mercantilism.

The Columbian Exchange

The Columbian Exchange was a two-way exchange between the Americas and Europe, Asia or Africa. The exchange included crops, livestock, and other goods for enslaved Africans who worked on the plantations. Disease was a result of this exchange since Native Americans did not have immunity to fight off European germs.

The Northwest Passage

England, France, and the Netherlands searched for a more direct route to Asia to compete with Spain and Portugal, who had claimed most the Americas. This became known as the Northwest Passage. Instead of traveling around South America, they sailed along the northern coast to North America.

John Cabot probably landed on the coast of Newfoundland in 1497. England was then able to establish claims in North America.

Explorers

Giovanni de Verranzo sailed for France in 1524 and explored the coast of North America from present-day Nova Scotia south to the Carolinas.

Jacques Cartier also sailed for France. He sailed up the St. Lawrence River and founded Mont-Royal (Montreal).

Henry Hudson sailed for the Dutch. He discovered the Hudson River in 1609. He sailed as far north as Albany. In 1610 he discovered Hudson Bay, thinking that he had reached the Pacific Ocean. He and his crew were unsuccessful in finding an outlet.

In the 1600s France and the Netherlands set up trading posts in the Americas. They were interested in economic opportunities, not building an empire.

Samuel de Champlain established a trading post for fur trading in Quebec and other parts of Canada. The Dutch established trading posts along the Hudson River.

Wrap Up Questions

Why was it important for Europeans to compete for territory in the Americas?

Why do you think Martin Luther had so many followers?